Ear protector



'r. GIBBONS EAR PROTECTOR Filed March 14, 1952 Max-c112 1954 I INVENTOR.

Thomas Gibbons Patented Mar. 2, 1 954 r...

EAR PROTECTOR Thomas Gibbons, Chicago, 111.

Application March 14, 1952, Serial No. 276,542

4 Claims.

My invention relates to ear protectors which can be worn in the ear without discomfort, and which will protect the ears or car against damage to the tympanum or drum or ear drum thereof.

An important object of my invention is to provide ear plugs, which may be removably inserted and worn in the ear canal, and which are provided with a frusto-conical insert or plug section to fit frictionally in the ear canal.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of the aforementioned character, which is provided on its conical surface with a series of circumferential serrations, so as to afford relieved contact with the interior surface of the ear canal, in order to allow sound to partially enter and permit individuals wearing the car drum protectors to carry on a conversation, in

other words, not to totally deafen the wearer.

Another object of my invention is to provide a core opening longitudinally and axially within the body of the said ear drum protector, which will permit the insertion of the ear drum protector without unduly compressing the air within the confines of the ear canal, so as not to subject the tympanum or ear drum to tension or strain.

A further object of my invention is to provide core means which will afford a reduced section to permit the same to be subjected to a partial vibration, the said partial vibration being in turn imparted to the ear drum, so that conversation may be carried on by people Wearing the said ear drum protector, without impairing the hearing to a great extent.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an article of the aforementioned character, in which a portion thereof, is subjected to vibration by sound and tonal effects which will create sympathetic vibration on the ear drum or tympanum of the ear, so that slight sounds are transmitted to the ear drum, but will prevent loud noises from rupturing the tympanum or the ear drum, thus protecting the ear drum against noises of tremendous vibration. Thus the air within the ear canal will be permitted to function within the core means aforementioned, and hence aid in subduing the intense vibration to which the ear drum might be subjected by loud 2 be economically manufactured in quantity production.

Other objects and advantages resident in my invention will be readily discernible from the accompanying drawings, bearing further elucidation in the ensuing description, wherein like sym-. hols are used to designate like parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an ear, showing the anatomical construction thereof, and showing my invention inserted therein, partially in section, in order to disclose the detailed structure thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of my invention with a portion thereof broken away in section, in order to clearly illustrate the details thereof.

Fig. 3 is a top view of Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken substantially, on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view, taken substantially, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the various views, the ear structure I3, is illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the audigory canal I4 thereof, and the drum or tympanum My invention is generally designated 1 and is shown inserted removably and in frictional engagement within the canal I4 in Fig. 1.

The detailed structure of my invention generally designated 1, consists of the frusto conical body 8, having a reduced neck 9, and a manipulating handle I0, slightly larger in diameter.

The frusto-com'cal body 8 is provided with a series of threadlike circumferential ridges II, so

as to minimize the frictional contact therebetween and the interior surface of the auditory canal I 4 of the ear I3.

At the bottom thereof, a bore I2 is axially located, it being a blind bore so that the remainder portion I9 above the bottom of the bore I1 is closed. The top of exposed portion I8 of the ear protector I is exposed outside of the confines of the auditory canal I 4, to permit manipulating the handle I0 when placing the instrumentality within the auditory-canal I4, or when removing the same from the auditory canal I4.

The tapered structure permits insertion of the" article into the auditory canal III which may vary in size, depending on the person wearing the same, so that the protector I may either enter further into the canal I I, or have the greater por-,' tion thereof exposed. I

The contact of the ridges II with the interior surface of the auditory canal I4, thus provide open circumferential portions or circular por-. tions, which permit some sound and tone effects or vibrations to pass to the drum I5, at the same time, the portion I9 between the bottom of the bore I1, and the top surface I8, which is more or less solid, is partially subjected to vibration,-

tone influences, will only partially respond to" those influences, and therefore merely cause a tact the auditory canal of the ear in curvilinear and frictional relationship.

2. An ear protector, made of resilient material and adapted to fit frictionally within the confines of the auditory canal of a human ear, comprising a irusto-oonical body portion, a manipulating knob portion near the larger end of the said .frusto-conical body portion and extending beyond the confines of the auditory canal, a reduced neck partial reaction on the ear drum l5, so that'the effects of bombing, detonation and other noises which ordinarily would rupture or fracture an ear drum l5, would not, in this particular instance, v

cause such damage to the ear drum l5, affording protection thereto, .at such times, without impairing the hearing to the extent that individuals wearing the ear protector .7, could not carry on conversation.

.iIhe .articleior its effective use and purpose,

is merely inserted frictionally into the auditory canal ikuntil afirm engagement thereof is'felt by the wearer, without necessarily forcing the saine do cause any :material discomfort. The article :inserted in this manner, because of its conical structure, permits some of the airin the auditory canal ill to be displaced, and when engagingthezsame irictionally, soas to say in the auditory .canal iii, the added pressure required for frictionally engaging'the article '1 the auditory canal i4, is causedto enter the .bore 12, thus relievingthe auditory'canal hi of compressed air, which might otherwise result, and which would militate-against the retention of the ear protector 1,-againstbeing :frictionally held within the coniinesof the auditory canal i4. Itcan readily be seen, and it is quite evident, and obvious that the insertion and removal of the ear drum protector I, can be instantaneously effected.

Ibelievelhave herein illustrated and described the nature of my invention, and expounded, in expository form, the teachingsso that those familiar with the art will be able to practice my invention. Inasmuohasthe same is susceptible of many modifications, alterations, and improvements, I'hereby reserve the rightto any improvements, alterations and modificationscoming withinthe scope-and spirit of my invention and disclosure, also the right'to any improvements impliably embraced in the accompanying illustrations depicting thegenerallyisuggested elemental structure ot'my invention, and also any modifications, improvements, or alterations, falling within thepurview of the foregoing description; my invention .to be limited only by the subjoined claims.

Having thus disclosed and revealed my invention, what I claimasnew and desireto secure by :Letters Patent is:

1. An earprotector, made oii:resilient material and adapted to fit .frictionally within .the confines oftherauditory canal f a human-ear, .oomprisingsa frusto-conical body portion, .amaznipulating knob portion near the iiarger and rot the said Lirusto-conical body portion and extending beyond the confines of the auditory canal, and a reduced neck portion intermediate :the said body portion: and the said manipulating portion, and a multiplicity. of ridges formed circumferentially about the said frusto-conical'body portion defining open circumferential portions therebetween, each 20f saidrridges being adapted to con portion intermediate the said body portion and the said manipulating portion, and a multiplicity of ridges formed circumferentially about the said ,zfrusto-conical .body portion defining open circumferential portions therebetween, each of the said ridges being adapted to contact the auditory canal of the ear in curvilinear and frictional relationship, and bore means axially locatedlongitudinally extending substantially through the greater portion of the said irusto-conical body portion defining a .sciid sound responsive portion augmenting rearing through the agency otsympathetic vibration.

3. An ear protector, made of resilient material and adapted to fit frictionally within the confines of the auditory canal of a human ear, comprising a frusto-conical body portion, a manipulating knob :portion near the larger end of the said frusto-conical body portion and extending beyond the confines of the auditory canal, a reduced neck portion intermediate the said body portion and the said manipulating portion, and a multiplicity of ridges formed circumferentially about the said frusto-conical body portion defining open circumferential portions therebetween, each of the said ridges being adapted to contact the auditory canal of the earin curvilinear and frictional relationship, the said ear protector being susceptible of preventing impairment of the ear drum by injurious sounds but maintaining the ear drum responsive to audible conversational tones.

i. An ear protector, made of .resilent material and adapted to fit irictionally withinxthe confines of the auditory canal of a human ear, comprising a rrusto-conical' body portion, a manipulating knob portion near the larger end of the said irusto-conical body portionand extending beyond the confines of the auditory canal, a reduced neck portion intermediate the said body portion and the said manipulating portion, and a multiplicity of ridges formed circumferentially about the said frusto-conieal body portion defining open circumferential portions therebetween, each of the said ridges being adapted to contact the auditory canal of the ear in curvilinear and frictional relationship, and bore means axially'located longitudmally extending substantially through the 'JIHOIVIAS GIBBONS.

References Cited in the file of this :patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nmnber Name Date 2,246,737 Knudsen June-24, 1941 2,3933% 'Veneitlasen Jan. 15, 1946 2,427,664: Dunbar Sept. 23, 1947 2', i37,i9(l Watson .Mar. '9, 1948 2,573,923 Mezz Nov. --6, .1951 

